High school notebook: Easy to ponder how things may have played out without Kremler injury

Mount Douglas Rams quarterback Gideone Kremler dives for a first down as New Westminster Hyacks Greyson Planinsic tries to make the tackle during Saturday's Provincial AAA high school football finals on Saturday. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG

Count longtime Notre Dame Jugglers coach George Oswald among those who wonder how the last few years in Triple A football would have played out if Gideone Kremler didn’t hurt his knee.

Kremler did the unthinkable in 2015, leading Victoria’s Mount Douglas Rams to the provincial title as a Grade 9 quarterback. He won another over the weekend to close out his high school eligibility, helping spark a 48-24 win over the New Westminster Hyacks in his last game as a Grade 12.

In between, he battled injury issues. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Grade 10, and Oswald and fellow longtime observers suggest that Kremler was finally back to full health for these playoffs, leaving opponents befuddled with an equal ability to run as well as pass.

“It could have been a little different. They might have won three or four championships,” said Oswald.

Oswald is one of the savviest football minds in the province. He is back at Notre Dame these days as an assistant coach to Denis Kelly. He had been bench boss there for more than 30 years when he stepped down from that post in 2010.

He says that Kremler is further evidence that more and more top athletes are opting for quarterback, rather than playing running back, like they did in the past.

“Everybody is going to have to worry next year about Ben McDonald,” Oswald said, pointing to the fleet-footed South Delta Sun Devils Grade 11 pivot. “Kelowna (Owls) won the junior title and they have a similar guy in Nathan Beauchemin.

“That’s how the game is changing. If you don’t account for those guys (running the ball) in your defensive scheme, they can really hurt you.”

Crofton House repeats

The volleyball provincials were last weekend and among the more compelling tournaments was the Triple A girls at Brooks in Powell River. Vancouver’s Crofton House repeated as champions, but the tournament’s top seeds needed to go the five-set distance to avenge a pool play loss to Campbell River’s Carihi.

Set scores were 25-18, 23-25, 25-18, 24-26 and 15-12.

Set scores in Carihi’s win over Crofton House earlier in the event were 27-25, 14-25, 15-12.

An interested onlooker was Chris Berglund. He coached at Crofton House for nine years, including helping them to last year’s title. He’s since moved to the Campbell River area, and his club team there includes members of Carihi.

“It was pretty awesome to see the success of both teams and the athletes. Not weird at all,” Berglund expressed through a Facebook Messenger interview.

Jadyn van Santen was named tournament most valuable player for the second straight year, while teammate Shea Baker was picked to the first all-star team in back-to-back seasons.

Jacqueline Murphy of Crofton House also made the first all-star team. Emoni Bush and Rebecca Tazumi from Carihi were first all-stars as well.

VOLLEYBALL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS

BOYS

Triple A: Earl Marriott

Double A: Abbotsford Christian

Single A: Vernon Christian

GIRLS

Quad A: Kelowna

Triple A: Crofton House

Double A: Pacific Academy

Single A: Unity Christian

That’s the ticket

Anthony Beyrouti, lead organizer of the Big Ticket tournament, said that he and his group “couldn’t be more excited,” with how their inaugural year went over weekend

The tournament featured 64 teams spread over four divisions, played its finals at SFU and gave out 40 scholarships of $1,000 each through donations from development company Onni Group and Beyrouti’s Venue Kings ticket broker business.

Beyrouti says the plan is to double the number of teams, going to 32-squad events for senior boys, senior girls, junior boys and junior girls.

“We also think that we can add to the scholarship total for next year,” he said.

Among the highlights was Langley’s Walnut Grove Gators, who were No. 2 in the pre-season Triple A girls rankings, beating the No. 5 Riverside Rapid of Port Coquitlam by a 83-53 count in the final.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

Postmedia is pleased to bring you a new commenting experience. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.